Paris Roads

I'm not posting this photo because of any kind of specific 'artistic'merit but more because I love what's going on in it. One of myfavourite things about Paris is the way that different roadways areused for different purposes. Before I went to Paris everyone told methe drivers in Paris are “maniacs” and that I should avoid thestreets. I do have to wonder if this advice came from people trying tojaywalk the Champs Elise. Of course, as a pedestrian, stepping on to amajor boulevard would be foolish -- you'd be taking your life in yourhands and, frankly, breaking the unwritten "norm" that it appearsParisians subscribe to.

The big roads are for the cars, the small roads are for the people.There is a mutual respect between pedestrians and cars that simplydoes not exist in North America from what I've seen. It seems to methat small, narrow roads with small sidewalks are truly multi-modalshared space.

In this example a sandwich vendor is selling (delicious) fresh food upat the street-line (far left), flower vendors are also at work on theright sidewalk. A cyclist with his envelope is in transit, perhaps forwork, while the car in front of the cyclist slows to navigate thecrowd of people in the road who are also waiting to buy something -- I think it's gelato if I recall.

Paris Roads

I'm not posting this photo because of any kind of specific 'artistic'merit but more because I love what's going on in it. One of myfavourite things about Paris is the way that different roadways areused for different purposes. Before I went to Paris everyone told methe drivers in Paris are “maniacs” and that I should avoid thestreets. I do have to wonder if this advice came from people trying tojaywalk the Champs Elise. Of course, as a pedestrian, stepping on to amajor boulevard would be foolish -- you'd be taking your life in yourhands and, frankly, breaking the unwritten "norm" that it appearsParisians subscribe to.

The big roads are for the cars, the small roads are for the people.There is a mutual respect between pedestrians and cars that simplydoes not exist in North America from what I've seen. It seems to methat small, narrow roads with small sidewalks are truly multi-modalshared space.

In this example a sandwich vendor is selling (delicious) fresh food upat the street-line (far left), flower vendors are also at work on theright sidewalk. A cyclist with his envelope is in transit, perhaps forwork, while the car in front of the cyclist slows to navigate thecrowd of people in the road who are also waiting to buy something -- I think it's gelato if I recall.